Is CVS Pharmacy coming to Rock Hill? Good question! 

John Kercher, who owns The Gumbo Shop at 9501 Manchester Rd., asked the Rock Hill Board of Aldermen at a recent meeting if it had heard anything about the pharmacy setting up shop at the corner of Manchester and McKnight roads.

"There's been a lot of dialogue between business owners at the northwest corner of the intersection about the possibility," he said during the meeting. "It's a growing concern, and I'm just wondering if any board members would go on record as to whether they've heard about it."

None of the board members commented. In an interview, City Manager George Liyeous said neither the city, nor its planning and zoning commission had been approached by CVS.

CVS did not return Patch's phone calls on the subject.

However, some business owners Patch spoke with said they have indeed been approached by a broker on behalf of the pharmacy about a buyout. One business owner said a broker first contacted her in October.

"There was a letter of intent sent to us in 2011," said the business owner, who asked not to be identified. "Right now our contract is just floating, but I have heard other business owners have agreed to their contracts."

She noted that the contracts have a confidentiality clause preventing them from speaking publicly about the matter. She also said there a couple homes on Charleville involved in the buyout.

Of the six business owners/landlords Patch spoke with, one said he couldn't comment on the issue because of the confidentiality clause. Two others said they had been approached by CVS, and the rest said they had just heard rumors about it. 

One business owner said she doesn't become too riled abut redevelopment plans because she's been heard talk about big companies buying the area so many times.

"Unless I see a bulldozer, I don't get too upset about rumors like these," she said. "But then again, look what happened to the church (Rock Hill Presbyterian Church) across the street."

U-Gas purchased land at the northeast corner of Manchester and McKnight to build a gas station and car wash. The historic church located on the land is being moved to a Warren County winery, much to the dismay of Rock Hill residents.

Patch will be keeping an eye on this story and will bring you updates as they become available.